TRIPLE TEMBO OF BROADCASTING ROYALTY
…an unforgettable family portrait
By DAVID KANDUZA
EMOTIONS ran high and memories filled the room as veteran broadcaster Franklin Tembo Jr. was treated to a spectacular, unscripted surprise farewell party recently in Lusaka.
After decades of anchoring the nation’s most prominent events, the legendary Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) voice is officially stepping away from regular employment to venture into independent practice.
The highlight of the evening was a rare, star-studded family reunion capturing The Three Tembos. Flanked by the iconic Jacqueline Tembo and fellow broadcasting heavyweight Evelyn Tembo, the trio shared laughs, embraces and a few tears.
For years, the Tembo name has been synonymous with excellence on Zambian television screens and seeing them united to honour one of their own added a profoundly personal touch to the celebration.
Colleagues described Franklin as a masterful “jack of all trades”.
Speakers fondly recounted his unparalleled versatility—commentating on high-level State House functions on a Wednesday, rushing to the Copperbelt for a fiery Kopala Derby football match by Saturday and anchoring live Parliamentary debates without ever missing a beat.
While his daily presence on the national broadcaster will be missed, the night was not about endings, but bold new beginnings.
As the curtains fall on his stellar corporate career, Tembo Jr. steps into the independent media landscape with the same poise, authority, and golden voice that made him a household name.